Chapter 71 Principal's Office
"What is this for?"
Seeing so much money, Qin Zhengguo raised his eyebrows and his face instantly became gloomy.
"It's always good to carry more money with you. This money won't do any good if you put it with me." Seeing that his cigarette was almost finished, Song Yuanchao handed him another one and said, "Besides, this money is not a gift for you. I'm asking you to use it to do something."
Qin Zhengguo held the cigarette and looked at Song Yuanchao without saying anything.
Song Yuanchao lit up a cigarette and took a puff, saying, "Actually, Daqi had planned to go to Yangcheng before, but later he stayed because he wanted to work with me in Shanghai. Not only him, I also have the idea of going to Yangcheng, but I can't go for the time being. This time you go there just to pave the way for us."
"What do you mean...?" Qin Zhengguo's expression relaxed and he lit a cigarette and asked.
"The country's policies have gradually opened up. The south is different from the north. Guangzhou is close to the Hong Kong River and has been greatly influenced by it, so it opened up earlier and more comprehensively."
"It is said that doing business in Guangzhou has become a normal thing, and the policies are much more relaxed than in other places. And I got the news that the country is still discussing the establishment of a special economic zone in the south, which may be set up in Pengcheng, not far from Guangzhou."
"When you arrive in Yangcheng, first find a place to settle down . It would be best if you buy a house. Then, follow Li Daqi's friends and hang out there. Look around and see if there is any business you can do and start some." Having said this, Song Yuanchao glanced at Qin Zhengguo. He did not tell him specifically how to do business because he knew that with Qin Zhengguo's ability, he did not need to be taught. Besides, Song Yuanchao was not very clear about the current situation in Yangcheng. He would know everything only after Qin Zhengguo went there himself.
"In a word, first establish yourself and then understand the situation. You can handle the rest on your own. This money is for you to use when you go there to open up the situation. It can also be regarded as an investment by all of us in the South."
After hearing this, Qin Zhengguo understood Song Yuanchao's intention. He nodded and rewrapped the money without saying a word.
He stood up, put out the almost finished cigarette in the ashtray, and continued packing his luggage.
Song Yuanchao helped him pack. Actually, Qin Zhengguo didn't have much stuff. Besides, the weather was getting warmer, and it wasn't cold in the south even in winter. He didn't need to bring cotton-padded jackets and other things. He just needed to bring spare clothes and toiletries.
After finishing, the two men carried their luggage out of the three-story pavilion, closed and locked the door, and Qin Zhengguo left the key to Song Yuanchao.
When they got downstairs, Song Yuanchao rode his bike to personally take Qin Zhengguo to Laobei Station. After asking there, he found out that there was a train to Yangcheng at 11 o'clock in the middle of the night. He bought a ticket for this train and Song Yuanchao took Qin Zhengguo all the way to the entrance.
"Let's go back. It's not safe on this road if we go back later." It was getting late. Qin Zhengguo took the backpack and said to Song Yuanchao with a smile, "I'll ask Daqi's friend to call him when I get there. If nothing happens here, send me a telegram. Anyway, you don't lack the money to send telegrams. We'll see each other after this is over!"
"Okay!" Song Yuanchao nodded heavily: "Take care on your journey and stay safe!"
"You're so nagging!" Qin Zhengguo punched Song Yuanchao's chest with his fist, grinned, turned around and left with his luggage. After entering the entrance, he did not stop and his figure disappeared from Song Yuanchao's sight in the blink of an eye.
Early the next morning, Song Yuanchao counted and verified the remaining materials in the workshop. The printing work officially ended today, and it would be completed after another day of finishing binding.
Song Yuanchao was busy with this matter the whole morning, and the comrades in the workshop were also seizing the last bit of time to complete the work. Although they were busy and tired, everyone was very happy because Song Yuanchao had announced to everyone yesterday that the bonuses would be distributed to everyone before the end of get off work today, and then everyone would have a day off.
Everyone has been looking forward to this for a long time. When they think of the bonus that is about to be received, their whole body becomes excited as if chicken blood has been injected.
Song Yuanchao didn't see Director Ma in the factory the whole morning, so he guessed he was at school.
It was after lunch that Director Ma finally arrived. He first instructed the cashier to arrange the distribution of everyone's bonuses, and then waved to Song Yuanchao.
"master!"
"I have just discussed what happened yesterday with the principal. You should go to the principal's office now. The principal wants to see you for something." Originally, Song Yuanchao thought that Director Ma would bring good news, but who would have thought that the principal wanted to see him.
"The principal is looking for me? What's the matter, Master?" Song Yuanchao was stunned.
"Haha, I think he should talk to you. After all, you were the one who brought up this matter, so it's normal for the principal to look for you. Go quickly. The principal has something to go out for later, so don't keep him waiting for too long." Director Ma said calmly. Song Yuanchao responded and rushed towards the school.
After a moment, he knocked on the door of the principal's office. Principal Zhou, who was sitting at his desk looking at documents, saw Song Yuanchao coming and waved to him to come in.
"Principal, you're looking for me?"
"Yuanchao, please sit down first." Principal Zhou said kindly, and at the same time stood up to pour water for Song Yuanchao.
Song Yuanchao quickly took the bottle and poured it for himself, and filled Principal Zhou's cup with water. Then the two of them sat down on the sofa.
"Old Ma came to see me this morning. You should know what it was about." After sitting down, Principal Zhou asked straight to the point.
Song Yuanchao nodded. Of course he knew this. Wasn't it what he had talked about with Director Ma yesterday?
"The school has no objection to this matter," said Principal Zhou.
"So you agree?" Song Yuanchao didn't expect Principal Zhou to agree so readily, and a look of joy immediately appeared on his face.
"Why don't you agree? I'm not an old-fashioned person." Principal Zhou smiled when he saw Song Yuanchao's expression. "This is good for our school and factory, and it is also good for the country and the people. Why should I object?"
"That's great!" Song Yuanchao finally felt relieved. With Principal Zhou's words, all the anxiety he had before coming here disappeared in an instant.
Principal Zhou waved his hand and looked at Song Yuanchao and said, "I called you here for two reasons. The first is to tell you what the school thinks about this matter. The other is that I'm curious about how you figured this out."
As he spoke, Principal Zhou looked at Song Yuanchao, as if he wanted to find the answer from him. Song Yuanchao hesitated and said, "This, in fact, I was just thinking about it randomly. It was mainly when I was making the college entrance examination review materials this time. I think since so many students need these things, we can use our advantages to serve them."
"You know, the school-run factory has always been producing labor protection products, but since this month, orders for labor protection products have shown a downward trend. The master originally thought it was due to normal seasonal reasons of the factory, but when I went to check on the delivery some time ago, I realized that this was not the problem."
"What's the reason?" Principal Zhou asked with interest.
"It's because of competition from other companies with similar products." Song Yuanchao said frankly. He explained in detail what he saw when he was delivering goods, especially that the other factory already had other suppliers of labor protection products in the same industry, and their products were much better than the current factory's products in terms of style, color, and practicality, and the prices were not much different. In addition, the other party had already opened up the supply and marketing channels of the factory, and if this continued, it would greatly affect the school-run factory's future orders.
While listening, Principal Zhou frowned slightly, and asked with a serious expression: "Have you mentioned this to Lao Ma?"
"Of course, otherwise why would my master think of doing these things?" Song Yuanchao replied. In fact, what he said was a bit insincere. Director Ma did not pay too much attention to the competition in labor protection products. In his opinion, this was a fixed production task of their factory given by state-owned enterprises. Even if it was affected, it would be limited. The state could not favor one over the other. They were all state-owned units and should be treated equally.
Perhaps it was precisely because of his idea that the school-run factory, which was once quite popular, went out of business the next year and could not sustain itself for long, thus ending its history.
In the early days of reform and opening up, corporate leaders like Director Ma were not uncommon. In some ways, there was no problem with his ability to manage factories and his sense of responsibility. However, due to the tremendous changes brought about by the tide of the times, the entire social structure, including the market, began to undergo earth-shaking changes.
The decades of experience and deep-rooted ideas that their generation was proud of were unable to keep up with the great changes of the times, leading to a series of irreversible consequences. This is an extremely painful lesson.
Director Ma is Song Yuanchao's master. As an apprentice, he naturally cannot undermine his master. It is also impossible for Song Yuanchao to say bad things about Director Ma in front of Principal Zhou.
Song Yuanchao had once persuaded Director Ma to change the production structure of the school-run factory, but Director Ma rejected it. This time, he took the opportunity of making college entrance examination review materials to save the country in a roundabout way, and led Director Ma's thinking to another path, which led to the current situation.
"It seems that Lao Ma also has a sense of crisis. After all, he is an old revolutionary comrade, and he is quite sensitive." After listening to Song Yuanchao's explanation, Principal Zhou nodded with satisfaction.
"Principal, since you also think this is feasible, if our school, including the factory, can take this opportunity to transform, we can break out of another path. Even if there are fewer orders for labor protection products in the future, at least the factory will not have to worry about it, and the school can also take this opportunity to gain both fame and fortune. What do you think?"
"Hahaha, you're quite good at this. That sounds pretty good."
Principal Zhou burst into laughter and pointed at Song Yuanchao with his hand. Song Yuanchao also laughed embarrassedly.
In fact, Principal Zhou had thought about this as early as the first time they cooperated. But before he could talk to Director Ma and Song Yuanchao first, they took the initiative to make this suggestion, which made Principal Zhou surprised but also somewhat happy.
